Heroco

Heroco is the working name tied to Catalyst Hi-Tech and Entrepreneurship Development Foundation, set up by the founding partners of SmartGateVC. The foundation runs programs meant to supply the Armenian startup scene with trained people and companies ready to grow.

Its main initiative is the Armenia Startup Academy, an entrepreneurship and startup education program launched in October 2017 with backing from the EU-SMEDA Project under the EU4Business initiative. As of June 2023, the Academy had run 7 batches of its Pre-acceleration program and 3 batches of a Traction program, producing 121 alumni companies that have raised more than $10 million between them.

The program prepares startups to raise pre-seed funding and reach markets beyond Armenia.

This is in Yerevan, roughly 3 km northwest of the city center in a straight line.